Antifrictional journal-bearing.



PATENTED SEPT. 26, 1905. 'L. P. ALFORD & O. G. REEVES. ANTIFRIGTION JOURNAL BEARING.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18.1905.

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No. 800,531. PATENTED SEPT. 26, 1905. L. P. ALFORD & 0. C. REEVES-L ANTIFRIGTION JOURNAL. BEARING.

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ANTIFRICTIONAL JOURNAL-BEARING- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 26, 1905.

Application filed February 18. 1905. Serial No. 246,201.

Be it known that we, LEON P. ALFORD and ORWELL C. Rnnvns, of Beverly, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Antifriction Journal-Bearings, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to antifriction journal-bearings, and has for its object to provide the box or case with a plurality of non-compressible flexible rollers, each roller consisting of a plurality of short metallic rolls flexibly connected together and suitably spaced apart; also, to so construct the rollers that the rolls of each roller will occupy positions opposite the spaces between the rolls of the adjacent rollers; also, to construct a two-part box or case for the rollers the parts of which are separated on a line above the center; also, to provide the lower part of the box or case with one or more grooves in its bottom extending in a direction diagonal to its longitudinal axis.

Figure 1 shows an end view of the antifriction journal-bearing embodying this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the journal-bearing shown in Fig. 1, taken on the dotted line 2 2. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of the journal-bearing shown in Fig. 2, taken on the dotted line 3 3. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section of the journal-bearing shown in Fig. 2, taken on the dotted line 4 4. .Fig. 5 is an interior plan view of the lower part of the box or case. Fig. 6 is a plan view of one of the semicircular roller-carrying frames. Fig. 7 is a detail of one of the rollers removed. Fig. 8 is a detail of one of the rolls removed from the roller. Fig. 9 is a detail of one of the spacing-blocks removed from the roller.

(t represents the lower part of the box or case, and b the upper part thereof. Each part is formed with semicircular end portions a Z), between which the rollers are placed. The sides of the part 66 extend above the center, as at (6 (see Figs. 1 and 2,) and form seats which support the upper part b. The semicircular end portions of the part 6 project beyond the seats 6 which are formed along its sides and which are adapted to rest upon the seats (L2 on the part a. The line of division between the roller-receiving recesses or portions of the two parts a and I) is thus located at a point above the center, so that the rollers in action will not roll over a joint. In other words, the joints of the two-part box are located above the active rollers. The two parts a and b of the box or case will be secured together by screws or other suitable means. The lower part of the box or case at has formed in its bottom one or more grooves (t two being herein shown, (see Fig. 5,) which extend in a direction diagonal to its longitudinal axis, and at some part of said groove a hole a is bored through the box. This groove is designed to receive the dirt, to thus prevent it from impeding the movement of the rollers, and the hole (4* provides for the escape of the dirt. While this form of box or case presents novel features which are very desirable and advantageous, yet so I far as other features of the invention are concerned it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular construction of the box or case. i

Frames are contained in the roller-receiving recesses in the box or case designed to hold the rollers, and, as herein shown, two such frames are provided, which are formed semicircularly and placed one in each part of the box or case, and said frames are designed to hold the rollers in groups or sets, there being four groups or sets of rollers provided, each having three rollers, although the invention is not limited to the number of groups or sets of rollers employed or to the number of rollers contained in each group or set. Each frame consists of a pair of semicircular end pieces or rings 0, connected togetherby a pair of bars 0. The bars 0 extend lengthwise the box or case, and in addition to serving as connections between the end pieces of the frames also serve as separating-bars to separate the groups or sets of rollers. The two semicircular frames are placed. in the roller-receiving recesses of the box or case and together form a complete circular frame; but when placed in said recesses they are turned on their axes, so that the line of division between them is not coincident with the line of division between the parts of the boxor case, and one side of the upper frame extends down into the lower part a of the box or case, and the opposite side of the other frame extends up into the upper part b of the box or case, as shown in Fig. 4:. This pro- Vides for the removal of the upper part of the box or case without disturbing the frame con-- taining the rolls, which is a desirable feature. While this form of roller-supporting frame presents novel features which are very desirable and advantageous, yet, so far as other features of the invention are concerned, it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular construction of said frame.

The rollers are made of suitable length to be placed between the end pieces 0 c of the frames which are adapted to receive them, and these rollers each consist of a plurality of short cylindrical rolls (Z, flexibly connected together and suitably spaced apart. These cylindrical rolls may be flexibly connected together in many ways, and one way is herein shown merely for the sake of illustrating the invention. As herein shown, each roll (Z has several holes bored through it longitudinally, four being herein shown, (see Fig. 8,) one at the center and three at points equidistant from the center and located at regular intervals apart, and also, as herein shown, wire rods (Z extend through the holes of all the rolls comprising each roller except through the center hole, the ends of said rods being riveted down.

The rolls (Z are spaced apart and held separated by small blocks (Z (see Fig. 9,) whichare placed between them and between the several wire rods (Z, being held in place by said rods (Z. In practice the wire rods serve as efficient flexible connections, being more or less elastic; but wire ropes will be employed in lieu thereof, if desired, or, in fact, any other equivalent connections may be employed which will give the rollers the requisite flexibility. If an additional wire rod be put through the center hole of the rolls (Z, then the blocks (Z would of necessity be provided with a center hole; but in practice such additional means of supporting the rolls and blocks appears to be unnecessary.

The rollers are made of a uniform length; but the rolls comprising the rollers are made of unequal lengths, so that they may be placed on the rods in such a manner that the rolls of each roller will be disposed opposite the spaces between the rolls of the adjacent roller. In practice the cylindrical rolls will not be much longer than their diameter. By constructing the rollers in this manner each roll has a limited movement independent of the others, which are included in the same roller, the amount being determined by the flexibility of the connections. The flexible roller thus constructed will adjust itself to any inequalities in either the shaft or box, and by making the rollers of a plurality of cylindrical metallic rolls they cannot be crushed or compressed or distorted when in use. In case any one of the rolls begins to flatten such action is immediately checked by the rotation of the adjacent rolls comprising the roller. By making the rolls of unequal length there is no tendency to score the shaft in certain places, the wear being equally distributed over the entire working area of the shaft and box.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an antifriction journal bearing, a two-part box or case having roller-receiving recesses, there being one or more grooves formed in the bottom of the lower part of said box or case, extending in a direction diagonal to its longitudinal axis, an exit-passage leading from said groove, and rollers contained in said recesses, substantially as described.

2. In an antifriction journalbearing, a two-part box or case having roller-receiving recesses, the line of separation between the parts thereof being located above the center, two roller-receiving frames contained in said recesses, one side of one frame extending down into the lower part of the box or case, and the opposite side of the other frame extending up into the upper part of the box or case, and rollers arranged in groups in said frames, substantially as described.

3. In anantifriction journal-bearing, a plurality of rollers and means for supporting them, each roller comprising a plurality of cylindrical rolls flexibly connected together, and spaced apart, substantially as described.

4. In an antifriction journalbearing, a plurality of rollers and means for supporting them, each roller being of uniform length, and comprising a plurality of cylindrical rolls of unequal length, flexibly connected together and spaced apart, substantially as described.

5. In an antifriction journal-bearing, a plurality of rollers and means for supporting them, each roller being of a uniform length, and comprising a plurality of cylindrical rolls of unequal length, flexibly connected together, and spaced apart, the cylindrical rolls of the several rollers being differently disposed relative to each other, substantially as described.

6. In an antifriction journal-bearing, a plurality of rollers and means for supporting them, each roller comprising a plurality of cylindrical rolls, flexible connections upon which they are mounted, and spacing-blocks interposed between the rollers, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LEON P. ALFOR D. ORVV ELL C. REEVES. WVitnesses:

HORACE P. FOSTER, EDWARD S. VVEBBER. 

